Fruits of the Spirit in Everyday LifeНамуна

Inexpressible and Glorious JOY

1 Peter 1:6-9

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Reflection on the passage:
Do you find that when you’re having a stressful day, the cookies or chocolates on the counter are all that more tempting? I know that’s true for me. In big and small ways, we as humans seek comfort, pleasure, and happiness, especially when trying to ease the bumps and trials of this life. Certainly, these pleasures can be part of God’s good gifts to us, but sometimes we use these things as a substitute for a much more wondrous gift that God wants to give us. The gift of joy! Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work within us. Peter beautifully describes it as “inexpressible and glorious.” In other words, the experience of joy is so divinely wonderful that it is beyond words. Joy bubbles up as a pure gift from the well of a loving relationship with Jesus deep within us.

Joy is tied closely to praise. Peter writes, “in all this you greatly rejoice.” “All this” refers to the previous verses about the rich inheritance and salvation we have in Christ. When we cling to this reality, we are able to joyfully praise God even amid grief and trials. In fact, God can use these hardships to refine us and make us ever more receptive to true joy. When we realize that we are totally dependent on God, and can’t make ourselves happy, we are freed to find our joy in Him. That’s why for the Christian, joy can be present alongside a cancer diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, or the experience of rejection. This is not to say that we won’t experience anxiety, sorrow, or hurt, but that true joy can break in, even into our darkest moments.

As Peter describes it in verse 8, joy comes from loving and believing in Jesus even though we can’t see Him with our eyes. In fact, joy is a sign that He is present. We experience His love for us and our love for Him. This love becomes saving, living water for our souls, meeting our deepest needs. And in that knowing our dearest Lord, we grow to experience more of this true joy, this tasting of His love which satisfies more than any pleasure on this earth can. Then as a fruit of the Spirit, joy bubbles out from us as a witness to good news for a world that so needs it!

Focus verse for prayerful reflection:
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” (1 Peter 1:8)

1. Take some time to prayerfully reflect on this verse. What most resonates and touches your heart? Where do you feel a disconnect? Share your honest thoughts and feelings with Jesus.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to grow within you the fruit of joy!